Positive separator for multiple disc clutches

ABSTRACT

A clutch assembly is provided that includes a flywheel. A clutch cover is secured to the flywheel. An intermediate plate is spaced from the flywheel, and a pressure plate is arranged between the clutch cover and the intermediate plate. The intermediate plate may be secured to the clutch cover by flexible straps or another similar device. The straps retract the pressure plate from an engaged position to a disengaged position. First and second friction discs are respectively arranged between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate and the intermediate plate and the flywheel. The pressure plate forces the intermediate plate and the friction discs toward the flywheel to couple and engine and transmission together. A separator moves the intermediate plate with the pressure plate from the engaged position to the disengaged position thereby permitting self-disengagement of the friction discs from the flywheel. The separator urges the intermediate plate in a direction toward the pressure plate, and preferably centers the intermediate plate between the pressure plate and the flywheel to permit sufficient space for the friction discs to self-disengage from the flywheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a clutch typically used in coupling an engine and transmission, and more particularly, the invention relates to a multiple disc clutch.

[0002] Clutches typically include a clutch cover secured to a flywheel. A pressure plate is arranged between the clutch cover and the flywheel and forces a friction disc, which is arranged between the pressure plate and flywheel, into engagement with the flywheel to couple the engine and transmission together. Typically, a resilient member such as clutch straps interconnect the pressure plate and clutch cover together for rotation with one another. The clutch straps permit movement along the axis of rotation of the clutch to permit movement of the pressure plate relative to the clutch cover. The clutch straps retract the pressure plate away from the flywheel upon actuation of a clutch pedal, which creates a condition that permits self-disengagement of the friction disc from the plate and flywheel.

[0003] Multiple disc clutches include an intermediate plate arranged between the pressure plate and the flywheel. A friction disc is arranged between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate and another friction disc is arranged between the intermediate plate and the flywheel. Of course, additional pressure plates and friction discs may be used. As with single disc clutches, the clutch straps or other such device retracts the pressure plate from the flywheel to disengage the clutch. The friction discs and the intermediate plate are expected to self-disengage once the pressure plate has been retracted. However, due to the number of components, weight of the components, frictional forces between the components, and other factors, the intermediate plate and friction disc may not fully disengage from the plates and flywheel. As a result, the friction discs and intermediate plate may vibrate causing noise or drag against the flywheel resulting in parasitic losses. Therefore, what is needed is a multiple disc clutch assembly that permits self-disengagement of the friction discs to reduce and/or eliminate vibrations and parasitic losses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

[0004] The present invention provides a clutch assembly including a flywheel. A clutch cover is secured to the flywheel. An intermediate plate is spaced from the flywheel, and a pressure plate is arranged between the clutch cover and the intermediate plate. The intermediate plate may be secured to the clutch cover by flexible straps or another similar device. The straps retract the pressure plate from an engaged position to a disengaged position. First and second friction discs are respectively arranged between the pressure plate and the intermediate plate and the intermediate plate and the flywheel. The pressure plate forces the intermediate plate and the friction discs toward the flywheel to couple and engine and transmission together. Additional plates and friction discs may be employed. The present invention utilizes a separator to move the intermediate plate with the pressure plate from the engaged position to the disengaged position thereby permitting self-disengagement of the friction discs from the flywheel. That is the separator maintains a gap between the plates and flywheel sufficient for self disengagement of the discs. The separator may include spaced apart portions with one of the portions engaging the pressure plate and the other of the portions engaging either the clutch cover or the flywheel. The separator includes an intermediate portion supported by the intermediate plate. The separator urges the intermediate plate in a direction toward the pressure plate, and preferably centers the intermediate plate between the pressure plate and the flywheel to permit sufficient space for the friction discs to self-disengage from the plates and flywheel.

[0005] Accordingly, the above invention provides a multiple disc clutch assembly that permits self-disengagement of the friction discs to reduce and/or eliminate vibrations and parasitic losses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Other advantages of the present invention can be understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a clutch assembly schematically depicting the clutch straps retracting the pressure plate to the disengaged position;

[0008]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a clutch assembly depicting the present invention separator;

[0009]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch assembly depicting another separator;

[0010]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a separator similar to that depicted in FIG. 3;

[0011]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch assembly depicting yet another separator;

[0012]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch assembly depicting a separator similar to that depicted in FIG. 5;

[0013]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the clutch assembly with still another separator;

[0014]FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the clutch assembly similar to that depicted in FIG. 7; and

[0015]FIG. 8B is a top elevational view of the separator shown in FIG. 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] A clutch assembly 10 is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The clutch assembly 10 includes a clutch cover 12 secured to a flywheel 14 for rotation with the flywheel 14 about a rotational axis A. A pressure plate 16 is disposed within the clutch cover 12 and is secured to the clutch cover 12 for rotation with the cover 12 by straps 18. The straps 18 are flexible and permit the pressure plate 16 to move along the axis A relative to the clutch cover between an engaged position to a disengaged position in which the pressure plate is spaced from the flywheel 14 farther than in the engaged position. For a multiple disc clutch, an intermediate plate 20 is arranged between the pressure plate 16 and the flywheel 14. A first friction disc 22 is arranged between the pressure plate 16 and the intermediate plate 20 and a second friction disc 24 is arranged between the intermediate plate 20 and the flywheel 14.

[0017] The pressure plate 16 may be urged toward the flywheel 14 by a diaphragm and levers to force the pressure plate 16, intermediate plate 20, and friction discs 22 and 24, and flywheel 14 into engagement with one another. When in the engaged position, torque is transmitted from the engine flywheel 14 to the transmission through the friction discs 22 and 24.

[0018] The force applied by the diaphragm spring and levers may be released upon actuation of the clutch pedal to permit the straps 18 to retract the pressure plate 16 from the engaged position to a disengaged position. In the disengaged position the pressure plate 16 is retracted from the flywheel 14 to a position farther from the flywheel 14 then in the engaged position. The space between the pressure plate 16 and the flywheel 14 is theoretically sufficient to permit the intermediate plate 20 and friction discs 22 and 24 to self-disengage from the flywheel 14. However, self-disengagement may not occur due to the weight, size, friction between components, and vibrations of the intermediate plate 20 and friction discs 22 and 24. As a result, noise and parasitic losses may occur.

[0019] The present invention addresses the problem by retracting the intermediate plate 20 with the pressure plate 16 to enhance self-disengagement of the second friction disc 24 from the flywheel 14. Retraction of the intermediate plate 20 ensures that sufficient space is provided between the plates 16 and 20 and the flywheel 14 for the friction disc 22 and 24 to disengage from the plates 16 and 20 and flywheel 14. To this end, the invention employs a separator 28 to move the intermediate plate 20 away from the flywheel 14 as the pressure plate 16 is moved to the disengaged position. The separator 28 may include spaced apart portions engaging the pressure plate 16 and either the clutch cover or the flywheel. An intermediate portion between the opposing separation portions is supported by the intermediate plate to ensure that the intermediate plate 20 is retracted with the pressure plate 16 upon disengagement of the clutch. Preferably, the intermediate plate 20 is retracted to a position that is equidistant from the pressure plate 16 and the flywheel 14. The separator is compressed during engagement of the clutch to accommodate friction discs 22 and 24 of similar thickness.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, the separator 35 may be a C-shaped resilient member with an intermediate portion 34 secured to the intermediate plate 20. One opposing portion 30 reacts against a flange 36 extending from the pressure plate 16 and the other portion 32 reacts against the flywheel 14.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3-6, a linkage system may be employed to retract the intermediate plate 20. A separator 40 may include a link 42 having a first portion 44 slidably received within the clutch cover 12 and a second portion 46 slidably received within the pressure plate 16, as shown in FIG. 3. A link 48 is pivotally connected between the link 42 and the intermediate plate 20. The link 48 is connected to the link 42 at a position equidistant, spaced a distance 1, from the pressure plate 16 and clutch cover 12. A spring 49 is connected to the links 42 and 48 and the clutch cover 12 to bias the pressure plate 16 and intermediate 20 upward away from the flywheel 14.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, separator 50 may include a link 52 with a first portion 54 pivotally fixed to the clutch cover 12 and a second portion 56 slidably received within the pressure plate 16. A link 58 is pivotally secured to the middle of the link 52 and to the intermediate plate 20. The link 52 is connected to link 58 a distance a from the pressure plate 16 and cover 12.

[0023] A separator 60 may include a link 62 having a first portion 64 pivotally fixed to the clutch cover 12 and a second portion 66 slidably received within the pressure plate 16. An intermediate portion of the link 62 is pivotably connected to the intermediate plate 20 at connection 68. Referring to FIG. 6, a separator 70 includes a link 72 with a first portion 74 reacting against a pressure plate 16 and a second portions 76 reacting against the clutch cover 12. The link 72 is connected to the intermediate plate 20 at connection 78, which is rotationally fixed relative to intermediate plate 20.

[0024] The intermediate plate 20 may include a separator 80, as shown in FIG. 7. The intermediate plate 70 may include pockets 82 receiving pins 84 that include flanges to retain the pins 84 within the pockets 82. Resilient members 86 are arranged between the pins 84 and an intermediate wall 88 separating opposing pockets 82 to bias the pins 84 outward. Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a separator 90 may include pockets 92 in a flange 94. Resilient bands 96 are received within the pockets and include ends bent outward to retain the resilient bands within the pockets 92. The resilient bands 96 react against an intermediate wall 98 separating opposing pockets 92 and coact with the pressure plate 16 and flywheel 14 to center the intermediate plate 20 between them.

[0025] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology that has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A clutch assembly comprising: a flywheel; a clutch cover secured to said flywheel; an intermediate plate spaced from said flywheel; a pressure plate arranged between said clutch cover and said intermediate plate and secured to said clutch cover by flexible straps, said straps retracting said pressure plate from an engaged position to a disengaged position; first and second friction discs respectively arranged between said pressure plate and said intermediate plate and said intermediate plate and said flywheel; and a separator including spaced apart portions with one of said portions engaging said pressure plate and the other of said portions engaging one of said clutch cover and said flywheel, said separator including a intermediate portion supported by said intermediate plate retracting said intermediate plate in a direction away from said flywheel in response to said pressure plate moving from said engaged position to said disengaged position.
 2. The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the separator includes a C-shaped resilient member having an intermediate portion secured to said intermediate plate.
 3. The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the separator includes a linkage.
 4. The clutch assembly according to claim 3, wherein the linkage assembly includes a first link defining said portions with one portion slidably received within said clutch cover and said other portions received within said pressure plate.
 5. The clutch assembly according to claim 4, wherein a second link is interconnected between said link and said intermediate plate.
 6. The clutch assembly according to claim 5, wherein a resilient member is connected between said clutch cover and said linkage assembly.
 7. The clutch assembly according to claim 3, wherein said separator includes a link defining said portions with one of said portions pivotally secured to said clutch cover and said other of said portions slidingly received within said pressure plate.
 8. The clutch assembly according to claim 7, wherein a second link is interconnected between said link and said intermediate plate.
 9. The clutch assembly according to claim 3, wherein said separator includes a link defining said portions with one of said portions pivotally secured to said clutch cover and said other of said portions slidingly received by said pressure plate with an intermediate portion of said link pivotally connected to said intermediate plate.
 10. The clutch assembly according to claim 3, wherein said separator includes a link defining said portions and said intermediate portion with said intermediate portion fixedly secured to said intermediate plate.
 11. The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said separator includes opposing pockets respectively in opposing surfaces of said intermediate plate with pins received in said pockets and a resilient member arranged between said pins and said intermediate plate urging said pins away from said intermediate plate toward said pressure plate and said flywheel.
 12. The clutch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said separator includes opposing pockets respectively in opposing surfaces of said intermediate plate with resilient bands received in said pockets urging said pins away from said intermediate plate toward said pressure plate and said flywheel.
 13. A method of disengaging a multi-disc clutch comprising the steps of: a) retracting a pressure plate; b) providing a separator supported by an intermediate plate; c) coacting the separator with the pressure plate; and d) urging the intermediate plate in a direction toward the pressure plate with the separator.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein step d) includes increasing a gap between the intermediate plate and a flywheel.
 15. The method according to claim 13, wherein step d) includes maintaining the intermediate plate in a position generally equidistant from the pressure plate and a flywheel. 